Wiper Devices for Sensor Housings

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to wiper devices for cleaning sensor housings. An example embodiment includes a wiper device for cleaning a surface of a rotatable sensor housing. The wiper device may have a driving arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of the driving arm is connected to a rotatable shaft. The wiper device may also have a wiper arm pivotally connected to the second end of the driving arm. The pivotal connection is located between a front region and a rear region of the wiper arm. Further, the wiper device may have a wiper blade coupled to the front region of the wiper arm. The wiper blade may be configured to wipe the surface of the rotatable sensor housing. Additionally, the wiper device may have a counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a driving arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the driving arm connected to a rotatable shaft;   a wiper arm pivotally connected to the second end of the driving arm, wherein the pivotal connection is located between a front region and a rear region of the wiper arm;   a wiper blade coupled to the front region of the wiper arm, the wiper blade configured to wipe the surface of a rotatable sensor housing; and   a counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm, wherein when the rotatable sensor housing rotates, the counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm causes an increase in a force applied to the wiper blade such that the wiper blade maintains contact with the surface of the rotatable sensor housing.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotal connection is configured to enable a rotational or a pivoting movement of the wiper arm about an axis. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotal connection is configured to enable the wiper arm to pivot between one or more positions. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wiper arm is configured to move from a first position to a second position when the rotatable sensor housing is rotated. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first position comprises a stowed position of the wiper device and the second position comprises a deployed position of the wiper device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the wiper blade is spaced from the surface of the rotatable sensor housing in the stowed position, and wherein the wiper blade contacts the surface of the rotatable sensor housing in the deployed position. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sensor housing is configured to rotate about an axis. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wiper device is mounted to the rotatable sensor housing. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive member configured to rotate the rotatable shaft about an axis. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable shaft extends through a sidewall of the rotatable sensor housing, and wherein the rotatable shaft is configured for rotation. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member having an end configured to engage with the driving arm and an opposite end configured to engage with the wiper arm. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is configured to provide a force on the wiper arm to cause the wiper blade to press against the surface of the rotatable sensor housing. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is disposed within a recess formed in the driving arm. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wiper arm has a center of gravity at the pivotal connection. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wiper arm has a center of gravity, and wherein the center of gravity of the wiper arm is offset at a distance from the pivotal connection. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid duct or nozzle configured to dispose fluid on the rotatable sensor housing when the rotatable sensor housing is at a predetermined position during rotation of the rotatable sensor housing. 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle comprising:
 a sensor system comprising a rotatable sensor housing;   a driving arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the driving arm connected to a rotatable shaft;   a wiper arm pivotally connected to the second end of the driving arm, wherein the pivotal connection is located between a front region and a rear region of the wiper arm;   a wiper blade coupled to the front region of the wiper arm, the wiper blade configured to wipe the surface of the rotatable sensor housing; and   a counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm, wherein when the rotatable sensor housing rotates, the counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm causes an increase in a force applied to the wiper blade such that the wiper blade maintains contact with the surface of the rotatable sensor housing.   
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor system includes at least one of a light detection and ranging (lidar) device, a camera, or a radar device within the rotatable sensor housing. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a biasing member having an end configured to engage with the driving arm and an opposite end configured to engage with the wiper arm, wherein the biasing member is configured to provide a force on the wiper arm to cause the wiper blade to press against the surface of the rotatable sensor housing.